Live Music and Strong Cocktails at Rachael's Feedback
Friday night at the New York City Wine & Food Festival was spent just how you would expect: with dancing, drinks and lots of food. Night owls made their way to The Bowery Hotel in downtown Manhattan, where Rachael Ray and her husband, John Cusimano, brought their signature South by Southwest music and cocktail party, Rachael Ray's Feedback, to the Big Apple. The Bowery Hotel's glamorous, luxurious and vintage-style terrace proved the perfect place to unite Rachael and John's shared love for food and music. Boasting the rockin' vibes of Austin (the live music capital), special bar bites curated by Rachael herself and libations handcrafted by award-winning chefs, this late-night party bled into Saturday.
While guests mingled on the hotel terrace, the best chefs and mixologists in the business manned the bar, shaking up inventive cocktails for all to savor. Libations ranged from expert executions of classics, like the bright cherry-topped Whiskey Sour from Harold's Meat & Three, to the completely unexpected, like the citrusy Shiso Yuzu Gin Tonic from Chef Ken Oringer of TORO; some even came with a hit of heat. The Pavo Salvaje creation from the team at The Happiest Hour and its downstairs bar, Slowly Shirley, came with warming jalapeno-spiked tequila, mole bitters, Angostura bitters and a twist of orange (pictured above).
Small bites for noshing abounded, while the team at Hill Country Barbecue Market stayed true to Feedback's Austin roots, laying out a spread of pit-smoked brisket, sweet potato mash and cornbread.
As drinks flowed and bites were passed, Rachael welcomed hip-hop blues musician G. Love to the stage, where he performed tracks from his upcoming album, Love Saves the Day. Partygoers grooved with Rachael as she danced and sang along in the front row. Later, a special surprise guest joined G. Love for This Ain't Living; Man vs. Food star Adam Richman broke down the song and won big hugs from Rachael at the end.
If last night's late bedtime is any indication, night two of the New York City Wine & Food Festival went off with a bang.
Keep coming back to FN Dish all weekend long for more insider coverage of the New York City Wine & Food Festival.
